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Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Leonardo DiCaprio topped it for the first time, flying past last year's winner, Johnny Depp. DiCaprio, 36, landed huge paydays for blockbusters Inception and Shutter Island, reportedly earning over $50 million for the former thanks to a contract guaranteeing him a percentage of the profits. It brought Forbes' grand total of the actor's earnings to $77 million between May 2010 and May 2011.
His earnings last year were approximately $75 million, dropped to number two with $50 million. He was trailed by comedian, actor, singer, producer Adam Sandler. The 44-year-old funnyman earned an estimated $40 million last year.
Will Smith and Tom Hanks rounded out the top five with $36 million and $35 million, respectively.On the actresses list, which was released last month, Angelina Jolie and Sarah Jessica Parker tied for first, both earning $30 million.
Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon also tied for a close spot behind Jolie, 36, and Parker, 46, earning $28 million each. And even though her career has been in a downswing, Julia Roberts came in fifth with $20 million thanks to her mega-hit Eat, Pray, Love.
In evidence that there's still a huge divide between men and women in Hollywood, the highest-earning actresses raked in less than half of DiCaprio's pay.Each year, Forbes compiles data from agents, lawyers, producers and other industry insiders to estimate actors' earnings.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Reese Witherspoon was born on 22th March 1976, in New Orleans, LA. Her mother was a professor with numerous degrees, including a PhD in pediatric nursing, while her father was a surgeon as well as a lieutenant in the Army Reserves. His military post led the family to relocate to Weisbaden, Germany, shortly after Witherspoon was born. She spent her infancy overseas before the family returned to the United States and settled in Nashville, TN.
The youngest of two kids as well as the only daughter, Witherspoon was bookish and ambitious, simultaneously planning to go into medicine like her parents, but also telling the girls in the schoolyard at the private Harding Academy that she was going to be the next Dolly Parton. A family friend recruited the perky blonde for a local TV commercial when she was seven; thus marking the humble beginnings of the girl who would one day find herself among the highest paid actresses in Hollywood.
Inspired by her brush with local fame, Witherspoon began taking acting lessons, and when she was 11 years old, took first place in a multi-state talent competition. For the next several years, Witherspoon maintained her focus on schoolwork and cheerleading, as well as absorbing her traditional Southern upbringing, which she would later credit with her strong work ethic and sense of responsibility. Her accomplished mother and grandmother instilled self-respect and high moral standards, which probably came in handy sooner than expected when their 14- year-old daughter inadvertently landed the lead role in a Hollywood film.
Though vehemently denied by both camps, Witherspoon was soon spotted with CAA talent agent, Jim Toth, in early 2010. Toward the end of the year, Witherspoon and Toth were a confirmed couple, complete with numerous photos ops with her children, while Gyllenhaal had reportedly moved on to actress Rachel Bilson. Back on the big screen, Witherspoon starred as a female professional softball player torn between a corporate executive (Paul Rudd) and a Major League Baseball pitcher (Owen Wilson) in James L. Brooks' love triangle comedy, "How Do You Know" (2010).
